Gerard Depardieu (L), Alyaksandr Lukashenka (R) in Belarus, summer 2015. Illustrative photo by belta.by
Belarus will be able to overcome all the hard times, Belarus President Alyaksandr Lukashenka said during the Christmas church service at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Minsk on Thursday.
“We will overcome all the difficulties. More so that they are not catastrophic for our state,” he said. Belarus will continue its social policy aimed at helping and supporting all those who need it, Lukashenka added.
“We will help the people who are really in need. Those who can work but do not do this please take no offence. We will make you work,” the Belarusian leader stressed.
“We will not give away our land. This is our soil and it is for our people, our children,” Lukashenka promised.
On 2 April 2015, the Belarusian president signed Decree Nr 3 (‘On Prevention of Social Dependency’). The decree established the obligation of the citizens of Belarus, foreign citizens permanently residing in Belarus, stateless persons, who did not participate in the financing of public spending or participated in such financing less than 183 days (six months – ed.) in the past year, to pay a fee of 20 basic units (BYR 3 million 600 thousand, or about $250).
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Belsat.eu, via BelTA
